Disruptions and driver shortages
Disruptions and driver shortages
I tell you what, Go North East are a complete disgrace.
No service on the Q3 from Newcastle to Great Park for two hours this evening.
A service 1 was supposedly only going to Percy Main, and turned passengers going further away. Yet when it got to Percy Main, a driver is waiting to take over and it continued to Whitley Bay. Then again, I'm lucky it turned up at all as it never usually does. The last services are cancelled again today.
The Coast Road services from both Arriva and Go North East are a disgrace, yesterday both the 23:00 307 and 23:15 308 failed to operate. I give up waiting to see if the 23:45 309 would come, and got a taxi instead.
These companies are shocking, and some action needs to be taken against them. At Stagecoach South, they were forced to give passengers free travel due to unreliability - same should happen here.
Source about Stagecoach South offering free travel: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-new...el-7841455
(23 Sep 2023, 7:01 pm)Thomas12 I tell you what, Go North East are a complete disgrace.
No service on the Q3 from Newcastle to Great Park for two hours this evening.
A service 1 was supposedly only going to Percy Main, and turned passengers going further away. Yet when it got to Percy Main, a driver is waiting to take over and it continued to Whitley Bay. Then again, I'm lucky it turned up at all as it never usually does. The last services are cancelled again today.
The Coast Road services from both Arriva and Go North East are a disgrace, yesterday both the 23:00 307 and 23:15 308 failed to operate. I give up waiting to see if the 23:45 309 would come, and got a taxi instead.
These companies are shocking, and some action needs to be taken against them. At Stagecoach South, they were forced to give passengers free travel due to unreliability - same should happen here.
Source about Stagecoach South offering free travel: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-new...el-7841455
(23 Sep 2023, 7:01 pm)Thomas12 I tell you what, Go North East are a complete disgrace.
No service on the Q3 from Newcastle to Great Park for two hours this evening.
A service 1 was supposedly only going to Percy Main, and turned passengers going further away. Yet when it got to Percy Main, a driver is waiting to take over and it continued to Whitley Bay. Then again, I'm lucky it turned up at all as it never usually does. The last services are cancelled again today.
The Coast Road services from both Arriva and Go North East are a disgrace, yesterday both the 23:00 307 and 23:15 308 failed to operate. I give up waiting to see if the 23:45 309 would come, and got a taxi instead.
These companies are shocking, and some action needs to be taken against them. At Stagecoach South, they were forced to give passengers free travel due to unreliability - same should happen here.
Source about Stagecoach South offering free travel: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-new...el-7841455
(23 Sep 2023, 7:01 pm)Thomas12 I tell you what, Go North East are a complete disgrace.
No service on the Q3 from Newcastle to Great Park for two hours this evening.
A service 1 was supposedly only going to Percy Main, and turned passengers going further away. Yet when it got to Percy Main, a driver is waiting to take over and it continued to Whitley Bay. Then again, I'm lucky it turned up at all as it never usually does. The last services are cancelled again today.
The Coast Road services from both Arriva and Go North East are a disgrace, yesterday both the 23:00 307 and 23:15 308 failed to operate. I give up waiting to see if the 23:45 309 would come, and got a taxi instead.
These companies are shocking, and some action needs to be taken against them. At Stagecoach South, they were forced to give passengers free travel due to unreliability - same should happen here.
Source about Stagecoach South offering free travel: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-new...el-7841455
(23 Sep 2023, 7:01 pm)Thomas12 I tell you what, Go North East are a complete disgrace.
No service on the Q3 from Newcastle to Great Park for two hours this evening.
A service 1 was supposedly only going to Percy Main, and turned passengers going further away. Yet when it got to Percy Main, a driver is waiting to take over and it continued to Whitley Bay. Then again, I'm lucky it turned up at all as it never usually does. The last services are cancelled again today.
The Coast Road services from both Arriva and Go North East are a disgrace, yesterday both the 23:00 307 and 23:15 308 failed to operate. I give up waiting to see if the 23:45 309 would come, and got a taxi instead.
These companies are shocking, and some action needs to be taken against them. At Stagecoach South, they were forced to give passengers free travel due to unreliability - same should happen here.
Source about Stagecoach South offering free travel: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-new...el-7841455
(23 Sep 2023, 7:01 pm)Thomas12 I tell you what, Go North East are a complete disgrace.
No service on the Q3 from Newcastle to Great Park for two hours this evening.
A service 1 was supposedly only going to Percy Main, and turned passengers going further away. Yet when it got to Percy Main, a driver is waiting to take over and it continued to Whitley Bay. Then again, I'm lucky it turned up at all as it never usually does. The last services are cancelled again today.
The Coast Road services from both Arriva and Go North East are a disgrace, yesterday both the 23:00 307 and 23:15 308 failed to operate. I give up waiting to see if the 23:45 309 would come, and got a taxi instead.
These companies are shocking, and some action needs to be taken against them. At Stagecoach South, they were forced to give passengers free travel due to unreliability - same should happen here.
Source about Stagecoach South offering free travel: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-new...el-7841455
(23 Sep 2023, 7:01 pm)Thomas12 I tell you what, Go North East are a complete disgrace.
No service on the Q3 from Newcastle to Great Park for two hours this evening.
A service 1 was supposedly only going to Percy Main, and turned passengers going further away. Yet when it got to Percy Main, a driver is waiting to take over and it continued to Whitley Bay. Then again, I'm lucky it turned up at all as it never usually does. The last services are cancelled again today.
The Coast Road services from both Arriva and Go North East are a disgrace, yesterday both the 23:00 307 and 23:15 308 failed to operate. I give up waiting to see if the 23:45 309 would come, and got a taxi instead.
These companies are shocking, and some action needs to be taken against them. At Stagecoach South, they were forced to give passengers free travel due to unreliability - same should happen here.
Source about Stagecoach South offering free travel: https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-new...el-7841455
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I think this tweet is clumsy, and I largely agree with the responses. https://twitter.com/GAGNigel/status/1705326274363760952
There's no question that this is a huge operational challenge and they need support in delivering it, but even if you are taking drivers away from struggling operating companies to support, its not really something to brag about on twitter!
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(24 Sep 2023, 1:09 am)Adrian I think this tweet is clumsy, and I largely agree with the responses. https://twitter.com/GAGNigel/status/1705326274363760952
There's no question that this is a huge operational challenge and they need support in delivering it, but even if you are taking drivers away from struggling operating companies to support, its not really something to brag about on twitter!
Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk
(24 Sep 2023, 1:09 am)Adrian I think this tweet is clumsy, and I largely agree with the responses. https://twitter.com/GAGNigel/status/1705326274363760952
There's no question that this is a huge operational challenge and they need support in delivering it, but even if you are taking drivers away from struggling operating companies to support, its not really something to brag about on twitter!
Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk
(24 Sep 2023, 1:09 am)Adrian I think this tweet is clumsy, and I largely agree with the responses. https://twitter.com/GAGNigel/status/1705326274363760952
There's no question that this is a huge operational challenge and they need support in delivering it, but even if you are taking drivers away from struggling operating companies to support, its not really something to brag about on twitter!
Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk
(24 Sep 2023, 1:09 am)Adrian I think this tweet is clumsy, and I largely agree with the responses. https://twitter.com/GAGNigel/status/1705326274363760952
There's no question that this is a huge operational challenge and they need support in delivering it, but even if you are taking drivers away from struggling operating companies to support, its not really something to brag about on twitter!
Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk
(23 Sep 2023, 7:08 pm)deanmachine Drivers are wanting to strike and GNE are struggling to cover services, I wonder if it's related.
(23 Sep 2023, 7:08 pm)deanmachine Drivers are wanting to strike and GNE are struggling to cover services, I wonder if it's related.
(24 Sep 2023, 7:29 am)54APhotography History repeating itself with Feetham. GoAhead need to look hard at their regional management..
(24 Sep 2023, 7:29 am)54APhotography History repeating itself with Feetham. GoAhead need to look hard at their regional management..
I mean…I’d love someone to come on and defend this bee thing. I get why you might need to do it, but just don’t shout about it externally. Do it internally and don’t piss off your own customers
I don’t get the PR at all. Nigel is obviously more about the wider group but the amount of GNE mangement staff gleefully posting about their jaunt to Manchester is bonkers and shows they couldn’t give a toss about their own customers.
If they’re that keen to help out, plenty of cancelled buses waiting to be operated
(24 Sep 2023, 7:39 am)Andreos1 Prior to Covid and Brexit, I'd argue his methods in cutting salary and benefit overheads, was probably successful. Despite being morally bankrupt.
Stage 1:
Piss the loyal, higher earning employees off enough that they quit.
Stage 1.5: If stage 1 doesn't work, consider fire and re-hire.
Stage 2: Replace with cheaper, younger, naive employees with lower rates and perks.
Things have changed now and I don't think his modus operandi will work or at the very least, be as effective.
(24 Sep 2023, 1:09 pm)Ambassador I mean…I’d love someone to come on and defend this bee thing. I get why you might need to do it, but just don’t shout about it externally. Do it internally and don’t piss off your own customers
I don’t get the PR at all. Nigel is obviously more about the wider group but the amount of GNE mangement staff gleefully posting about their jaunt to Manchester is bonkers and shows they couldn’t give a toss about their own customers.
If they’re that keen to help out, plenty of cancelled buses waiting to be operated
(24 Sep 2023, 7:39 am)Andreos1 Prior to Covid and Brexit, I'd argue his methods in cutting salary and benefit overheads, was probably successful. Despite being morally bankrupt.
Stage 1:
Piss the loyal, higher earning employees off enough that they quit.
Stage 1.5: If stage 1 doesn't work, consider fire and re-hire.
Stage 2: Replace with cheaper, younger, naive employees with lower rates and perks.
Things have changed now and I don't think his modus operandi will work or at the very least, be as effective.
(24 Sep 2023, 1:09 pm)Ambassador I mean…I’d love someone to come on and defend this bee thing. I get why you might need to do it, but just don’t shout about it externally. Do it internally and don’t piss off your own customers
I don’t get the PR at all. Nigel is obviously more about the wider group but the amount of GNE mangement staff gleefully posting about their jaunt to Manchester is bonkers and shows they couldn’t give a toss about their own customers.
If they’re that keen to help out, plenty of cancelled buses waiting to be operated
The X8 seemed to be going on some kind of random mystery tour last night!
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/anum-ane-7...2023-09-26
Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but I've noticed that Stagecoach are offering welcome bonuses for drivers joining with a PCV licence at Slatyford.
https://stagecoach.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com...21381e0000
(11 Sep 2023, 6:44 pm)Dan It depends where they live, too, of course.
Stagecoach will be the worst paid of the big three as soon as GNE’s pay deal is settled. Even GNE’s first offer (which drivers are balloting to strike over) sees them overtake Stagecoach. Whatever is agreed will be backdated to 1 July (or whenever the employee started at GNE, if after that date).
Conditions at Stagecoach (in terms of driving portions etc) are far worse than GNE.
Plenty of reasons why folk would go to GNE over Stagecoach. Of course, I am sure there are reasons why some drivers would prefer to work at Stagecoach too!
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(11 Oct 2023, 12:27 pm)mb134 Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but I've noticed that Stagecoach are offering welcome bonuses for drivers joining with a PCV licence at Slatyford.
https://stagecoach.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com...21381e0000
(11 Sep 2023, 6:44 pm)Dan It depends where they live, too, of course.
Stagecoach will be the worst paid of the big three as soon as GNE’s pay deal is settled. Even GNE’s first offer (which drivers are balloting to strike over) sees them overtake Stagecoach. Whatever is agreed will be backdated to 1 July (or whenever the employee started at GNE, if after that date).
Conditions at Stagecoach (in terms of driving portions etc) are far worse than GNE.
Plenty of reasons why folk would go to GNE over Stagecoach. Of course, I am sure there are reasons why some drivers would prefer to work at Stagecoach too!
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(11 Oct 2023, 12:27 pm)mb134 Not sure if it's been mentioned before, but I've noticed that Stagecoach are offering welcome bonuses for drivers joining with a PCV licence at Slatyford.
https://stagecoach.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com...21381e0000
Sorry, but I had to laugh: https://twitter.com/UKBusAwards/status/1...5385543168
I'm not sure any operator should be collecting awards for recruitment and retention at the minute, if they're struggling to do just that. Not a day goes by where service can be fully delivered, as there's not enough drivers available to cover the work.
(12 Oct 2023, 4:50 pm)Adrian Sorry, but I had to laugh: https://twitter.com/UKBusAwards/status/1...5385543168
I'm not sure any operator should be collecting awards for recruitment and retention at the minute, if they're struggling to do just that. Not a day goes by where service can be fully delivered, as there's not enough drivers available to cover the work.
(12 Oct 2023, 4:50 pm)Adrian Sorry, but I had to laugh: https://twitter.com/UKBusAwards/status/1...5385543168
I'm not sure any operator should be collecting awards for recruitment and retention at the minute, if they're struggling to do just that. Not a day goes by where service can be fully delivered, as there's not enough drivers available to cover the work.
(12 Oct 2023, 1:11 pm)Chris 1 I noticed that. Only on offer for a specific time. What was the period of time Arriva drivers had to stay for them to receive their relocation bung?
I had the misfortune of a pretty rough day on the 21 today and none of it was GNEs fault.
The rush hour 21s out of Newcastle were running 30-45 mins late out of Newcastle and it’s all down to the councils and the road network
Collingwood St and The Bigg Market are undergoing works to improve the flow of what is a pinch point of a junction but it took my 21 about 12 minutes to get from Wilko to High Level, not assisted by cars blocking Grainger St
The A184 was packed towards Gateshead interchange so the buses couldn’t access the bus lane, this added just under 8 minutes
We then got stuck on High St West as traffic from the A184 towards Gateshead Highway blocked the junction.
The above two are no doubt unintended consequences of Gatesheads utterly insane road network.
Low Fell was horrific, although I’d normally be off home at the cannon I was meeting friends in Chester. We crawled along to lyndhurst, at least 15 minutes.
Then we hit…Birtley. Wow. The new cycle lane and footpath improvements have 3 way lights at the moment, combined with the A1 roadworks, it’s a recipe for disaster, af5er 5 mins stuck at Eighton Lodge roundabout we sat in Newcastle Bank for 10 minutes before crawling through Birtley and then hitting yet more roadworks for the cycle lane after Komats. We arrived in Chester just under 40 mins late with a convoy of equally late 21s behind us.
I’m quick to criticise service delivery, but I genuinely don’t know what they can do aside stakeholder bollocking Gateshead Council for their ineptitude. Only going to get worse next year with the Tyne Bridge
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